Electromedical appliance.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

P. WENIGMAN. ELEOTROMEDIOAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

eases:

No. 792,637. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

P. WENIGMAN. ELEGTROMEDIGAL APPLIANCE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL WVENIGMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MICHAEL A. MOLAUGHLIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTROMEDICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,637, dated June 20, 1905. Application filed November 2, 1904. Serial No. 231,055.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL VVENIGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electromedical Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to an electromedical appliance for the purpose of applying electric current to the human body as a stimulant or curative agent, having reference more particularly to apparatus of the general type in which a battery of small voltaic cells is carried upon a belt to be worn by the patient, the belt having suitable electrodes adapted to be held in contact with the body.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved and simple means for removably fastening the individual cells of the battery in place upon the supporting-belt and at the same time establishing good electrical connection of such cells in the circuit.

Generally speaking, my invention contemplates the provision of a number of pairs of metallic clips which are riveted or otherwise fastened to the supporting-belt and connected by flexible conducting-wires with the respective electrodes, in combination with individual battery-cells of a form especially adapted to be removably held by said clips, the positive and negative elements of each batterycell having terminal pieces which are respectively engaged by the two clips of a pair, which are adapted not only to hold the cell in place, but also to make electrical connection with the terminals thereof.

1 will describe, my invention particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the complete appliance. Fig. 2 is a view looking at the opposite side of the belt with a portion of the lining removed to disclose the electrical connections. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a single battery-cell about to be secured in its holding-clips, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of a single cell of the battery in position in the holding-clips.

. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts Wherever they are shown.

The broad supporting-belt a, which is made of a substantial fabric, such as canvas, is provided with suitable straps and buckles whereby it may be fastened in the usual manner around the waist of the patient. Electrodes b and Z) 5 are mounted upon the belt in position to contact with the parts of the body where the electric current is to be applied, and these electrodes are connected by flexible conductingcords with the terminals 0 d of the electric battery. This battery is composed of a suitable number of individual voltaic cells 6 0. Each of these cells may be constructed, as shown in Fig. 4:, of an outer envelop of Zinc forming the positive element, an inner element of carbon, and a filling of exciting compound and depolarizer, such as is usual in so-called dry cells. The zinc envelop of the cell is provided with a terminal piece f, which is one member of a plug-and-socket connector. I prefer to make this connector like an ordinary snap glove-fastener, the plug or button thereof being soldered to the side of the zinc envelop of the battery-cell, while the socket portion 9 thereof is fastened in the fabric of the belt. The inner element of the cell is provided with a terminal piece 10, which is preferably in the form of a threaded pin projecting through the cover of the cell at the top. This pin is adapted to be inserted in a hole in a small metal bracket 72,, which is riveted or otherwise fastened to the su pporting-belt a, said pin being then secured to the bracket by a nut in, which screws upon the same. The socket portion g of the connector and the metal bracket it thus form a pair of clips upon the belt which are adapted not only to hold the battery-cell firmly in place, but also to make good electrical connection therewith. Fastening devices or rivets 7' '2- secure the battery-holding clips g h to the belt and pass through the same, the several pairs of clips being connected, by means of said rivets and flexible conducting-wires m m, with the end terminals n a, which are in turn connected to the electrodes 6 Z) Z). The belt is provided with a lining or cover 8, and

the flexible conductors are disposed between said belt and lining, being thereby covered and protected from injury.

The cover 0 of each battery-cell is preferably made of insulating material, such as hard rubber, and the cell sealed air-tight; but the cover may be of metal with an insulatingbushingto prevent contact of the terminal pin 1 therewith and the consequent short-circuiting of the battery.

Any one of the individual cells of the battery may be easily removed from the belt by unscrewing the nut from the pin p and pulling the cell hard enough to separate the two members f and g ofv the plug-and-socket switch. A fresh cell may thus be easily substituted for one which has become exhausted. W hen in place, the cells are in good electrical connection in the circuit and there is no danger of failure of current through imperfect connection.

The Whole apparatus is light, strong, and compact and not easily put out of order.

It will be understood that the forms of the several parts may be varied without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt, of electrodes carried thereby adapted to be applied to the body of the wearer, pairs of metal clips in electrical connection with said electrodes, said clips being fastened to the supporting-belt, and an electric battery-cell removably held by each pair of clips, the positive and negative elements of each battery-cell having terminal pieces which are respectively engaged by said clips, said clips serving both to hold the cell and to make electrical connection therewith.

2. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt carrying electrodes adapted to be applied to the bodyof the wearer, of a battery-cell having a threaded pin forming a terminal piece for one of the elements, and one member of a plug-and-socket connector forming the terminal of the other element, the cooperating member of said plugand-socket switch being fastened to the belt and electrically connected to one of said electrodes, and a metal bracket also fixed to said belt and electrically connected to the other electrode, said bracket having a hole adapted to receive said threaded pin, and a nut screwing on said pin to fasten the same to the bracket; whereby said battery-cell is removably held in place upon the belt and its elements electrically connected to the respective electrodes of the belt.

3. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt carrying electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of the wearer, of a battery-cell, a connecting-piece secured to said belt to which the terminal of one element of said cell is removably secured, a metal envelop for said cell forming the other element thereof, a plug carried by said element and forming the terminal thereof, and a socket secured to the belt and. adapted to receive said plug, said connectingpiece and socket being electrically connected with said electrode.

4. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt carrying electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of the wearer,'of a battery-cell, a connecting-piece secured to said belt to which the terminal of the negative element of said cell is removably secured, a metal envelop for said cell forming the positive element thereof, a plug soldered to the side of said metal envelop forming the terminal thereof, and a socket riveted to the belt adapted to receive said plug, said connectingpiece and socket being electrically connected with said electrodes by flexible conducting-wires.

5. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt and electrodes adapted to be applied to the body of the wearer, of pairs of battery-holding clips upon one face of the supporting-belt, fastening-pieces such as rivets, passing through the belt to fasten said clips to the belt, a lining or cover for the belt, and flexible conductors disposed between the belt and the lining, and, fastened to said rivets, said conductors serving to connect the battery-cells in circuit.

6. In an electromedical appliance, the combination with a supporting-belt and electrodes carried thereby, of a pair of battery-holding clips carried by said belt and electrically connected with the respective electrodes, and a battery-cell having terminal pieces mechanically held by said clips and in electrical contact therewith, said cell comprising a metal shell forming one element which is connected to one of said clips, an inner element having a projecting terminal piece which is held by the other clip, and a cap fitting over and sealing said shell, the terminal piece of the inner element passing through said cap.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of October, A. D. 1904.

PAUL IVENIGMAN.

VVitnesses:

DE TITT C. TANNER, VVINFIELD W. Lama. 

